Deadline: 26-Jul-23
The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is accepting proposals to fund projects that restore damage to the natural environment and support wildlife conservation, in a cost-effective way.
The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment.
Funding Categories
- Fines directed to the EDF are used to fund projects that focus on the following four categories in order of priority:
- restoration
- environmental quality improvement
- research and development
- education and awareness
Duration: There is no maximum EDF project duration; however the average EDF project typically does not exceed five years.
What projects may be funded?
- EDF funding is available for projects that address one or more of the program’s priority areas. These are referred to as funding categories.
- Project proposals submitted must be consistent with the EDF goals of environmental damage restoration, environmental conservation and related education and awareness. Accordingly, projects should fall into one of four EDF funding categories:
- Restoration
- Restore same type of natural resources lost, of the same quality and value in the locale where the incident occurred;
- Restore same type of natural resources lost, of the same quality and value in another locale; or
- Restore same type of natural resource, but of different quality in the locale where the incident occurred.
- Environmental Quality Improvement
- Improve or enhance different natural resources in the locale in which the incident occurred;
- Improve or enhance different natural resources in a different locale; or
- Improve or enhance environments previously degraded by pollutant discharges or other human induced alterations (e.g. tidal barriers, dike lands).
- Research and Development
- Undertake the assessment or research of environmental damage in support of restoration planning including the long-term effects and cumulative impacts of pollutant discharges or for increased understanding of limiting factors for migratory bird populations; or
- Develop environmental damage assessment and restoration methods including techniques for the valuation of damage; restoration alternatives (e.g. environmental management plans).
- Education and Awareness
- Promote education related to environmental damage restoration including training for the assessment and restoration of damage, or for increased awareness and compliance with environmental regulations; or
- Promote community capacity building and environmental stewardship in support of environmental damage restoration.
- Restoration
Geographic Location
- Projects must be undertaken within Canadian provinces and territories. Fund Use Requirements accompany each available funding amount and may include prioritized geographic regions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are not-for profit organizations and may include:
- non-governmental organizations (e.g. environmental community groups)
- universities and academic institutions
- Indigenous organizations
- provincial, territorial and municipal governments
- Individuals, businesses, and/or other federal departments or agencies are not eligible to apply for funding, but are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants. Offenders that have been fined or made monetary payments directed to the EDF are not eligible to apply or to partner with eligible groups for fines or monetary payments they have made that were directed to the EDF.
For more information, visit ECCC.